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Dave Carr
Dear PFC,
I hope my testimonial will boost those who have sagging hopes for attaining this career. I rode the testing “circuit” for more than six years. I was working on my college education, working a part-time position as a Reserve Firefighter and getting all the certs that I could. I got good scores on my exams and orals but for some reason I just could not get a job offer. I continued to practice my oral board skills and the practice exams. I even got a tutor for math. It helped and my scores went up but still I wasn’t hired.
At one point I realized I couldn’t test forever. I even thought about giving up. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area I was testing against thousands (12,000 in Oakland one year and usually 3000 to 8000 in other Bay Area cities). The numbers were staggering. I began to wonder if I was even a good candidate. But the fact remained. I HAD to be a firefighter! The short story is that after 56 exams, it happened. I was picked up full-time this year at age 33. My wife Staci was a key. All the training and miles traveled would have been worthless without her support and I don’t think I would have continued. If I’ve achieved any success, 99% of it belongs to her. The other 1% is probably due to my stubbornness.
I don’t claim to have the recipe for success but even through the rough times when I didn’t think I could continue, I persevered. I’m sure most of PFC subscribers won’t have to wait as long as I did, but it’s nice to know a regular guy can still make it. I hope this gives hope to the tens of thousands out there that want this career. It was worth it!
Thank you PFC for the good service you have provided! I got the postcards for years and then discovered the online service. With a click of the button I was on my way and many of the jobs I tested for I found through PFC. It’s the best service there is!
Test on! Dave Carr-Red Bluff Fire Dept.
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